Our View: Governor should veto ride-sharing bill

Thursday

Jul 31, 2014 at 7:00 PM

Ride-sharing services like Uber, Lyft and Sidecar may never come to cities such as Rockford and Freeport, but that doesn’t mean residents of northern Illinois should ignore what’s going on in Springfield.

Ride-sharing companies have entered Illinois, mainly Chicago, because there’s a demand for their services. House Bill 4075, which is awaiting Gov. Pat Quinn’s signature, would make it more difficult for the ride-sharing companies to do business in Illinois.

We think the governor should veto the bill.

An app on your phone can connect you with the nearest driver. Ride-sharing drivers use their personal vehicles and are not beholden to a cab company. They are available day or night and travel through neighborhoods that historically have been underserved by taxis. Patrons like the convenience the technology offers and the reasonable prices.

It’s an innovative approach and creates entrepreneurs out of folks who may have trouble finding employment elsewhere.

Let the free market decide whether a service is needed. Illinois should not restrict innovation or a service that creates jobs. Illinois’ unemployment rate has been declining but it is still among the highest in the nation.

There should be standards, but this legislation sets the bar too high and will discourage ride-sharing companies from operating here.

Which would be fine for cab companies, but not for consumers.

The legislation has become an issue in the race for governor. Republican Bruce Rauner, who generally thinks there should be less regulation on Illinois businesses, wants Quinn to veto the bill. Quinn has given no hints as to what he will do.

Ride-sharing is just another transportation option and people should have as many options as possible when they’re trying to get from here to there.

Veto the bill, governor, and show that Illinois is open to innovation, new ideas and new business.